GOP bill defunds schools that ban the American flag

he American Flag is displayed at Hampshire College on campus on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 in Amherst, Mass. The bill was introduced the same week that Hampshire College decided to remove the American flag from the campus. (Dave Roback /The Republican via AP)

Dozens of House Republicans have introduced legislation that would prevent federal funds from being used to fund schools and colleges that ban the American flag.

The bill was introduced the same week that Hampshire College in Massachusetts decided to remove the American flag from the campus.

Initially, the college lowered the flag to protest President-elect Trump’s election victory, and student protesters burned the flag the next day. The flag was removed entirely as a form of further protest, and eventually raised again Dec. 2.

That started a petition asking asking that federal funds be removed for any college that takes down the flag. And on Friday, Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and 52 other House Republicans put forward legislation to accomplish that.

“I am proud to introduce legislation that will protect the American flag from censorship across the country,” Turner said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “The American flag is a symbol of freedom throughout the world and should be respected as such. Recent action by Hampshire College to remove the American flag from its campus was a blatant act of censorship. Furthermore, Hampshire College’s decision disrespected our servicemembers, veterans, and the liberties our flag embodies. We must work to ensure that such acts of censorship are not supported by the government in the future.”